The shift dress is a design classic, an item of clothing that never dates and certainly never goes out of fashion. It first gained fame in the 1950s and 60s, when shift designs by Norman Norell, Lily Pulitzer and of course Givenchy, were worn by Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy and Jean Shrimpton. The simple design and clean lines of the shift made it a design that still remained vibrant and important even as the 1960s began to swing – the hemlines were just raised a little.

The design gained shoulder pads in the 1980s, and then worked with the minimalistic style of the 1990s, being the last fashion favourite of Diana, Princess of Wales. In face, the shift dress was the fashion item of the 1990s, being worn by Posh Spice aka Victoria Beckham in the Spice Girls Wannabe video, and it was also a favourite of Kate Moss and the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

And it shows no signs of going anywhere soon. No modern-day fashionista worth her salt would be without this wardrobe classic. Mollie King, Amal Clooney, Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss have all been seen wearing the style staple to great effect. Whether it be in the guise of a little black dress, a pretty floral shift, or a bright, colour block number, the shift is perfect for so many occasions, and looks great whether teamed with flat sandals, stiletto heels or chunky heeled boots. High Street favourite M&Co have a gorgeous range of shift dresses this season, so if you are thinking of adding one to your wardrobe, this would be a great place to take a look.

 

Classic Shift Dresses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shift Dresses at M&Co

So Jackie Kennedy…

To view all the M&Co dresses, click here.

Further Reading